BJP leader shot dead in Chhattisgarh

Chhattisgarh: A local BJP leader was killed and another seriously injured today after they were fired upon allegedly by an elderly man over a land dispute in this district, police said. Accused Mahesh Soni surrendered before police.

"The incident took place at Soni's house in Dongargarh town around 8 PM when the victims - BJP leader Doman Sahu and Manoj Shrivastav - arrived there to recover amount of a land deal from him," Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Sundarraj P said.

"While Doman succumbed to his injuries at the Rajnandgapon hospital, Shrivastav was shifted to Sector-9 hospital Bhilai for the treatment and his condition is said to be critical," he said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Soni and his family were involved in property business for past several years.

Two years ago, he had sold a piece of land near Kali temple at a price of Rs 8 lakh to Manoj, he said. According to police, later Manoj came to know that the property was disputed between Mahesh and his brother and the matter was pending in a local court.

Owing to legal complications, Manoj could not transfer the ownership of the land on his name, the officer said. As the dispute continued to remain unsolved, Manoj asked Mahesh to return his Rs 8 lakh but he refused to do so.

This evening Manoj along with his friends Doman and Ravi Agrawal went to Manoj's place to recover the money. On seeing them at his house, the accused brought out his 12 bore revolver and fired on Shrivastav and Sahu.

Subsequently, he went to Dongargarh police station and surrendered, the SP said. Ravi immediately informed their family members about the incident following which the duo were rushed a local hospital from where they were shifted to Rajnandgaon district headquarter where Doman succumbed to his injuries, Sundarraj added.

A case has been registered in this connection against the accused, the SP said adding investigations were underway.